248 Fertilizers 



up the hills, the soil is ridged, and during the preparation 

 of the ridge the fertilizer may be distributed in it and well 

 mixed with the soil. Where the land contains more clay 

 and humus it is frequently advocated that the potash 

 manures be applied broadcast the previous year, and only 

 the nitrogenous fertilizer and superphosphate be applied 

 immediately to the plant. On soils of this latter char- 

 acter, this is doubtless the best system. If kainit 

 which has been found to be preferable to muriate in the 

 Georgia experiments referred to is used as the source of 

 potash, it is very necessary that it be well mixed with the 

 soil before setting out the plants. Heavy applications of 

 this salt in the spring proved injurious in the experiments 

 conducted at the New Jersey Station. The effect of 

 fertilizers upon the chemical composition of the tuber was 

 chiefly to reduce dry matter, and not apparently to affect 

 edible quality, though the experiments were carried out 

 upon the general crop rather than upon those grown for 

 high quality. 



TOMATOES 



Tomatoes are largely grown as a field crop, and the ob- 

 ject of their growth, whether for the early market or for 

 the canneries, is a factor that must be considered in the 

 adoption of systems of fertilization. 



Field experiments with fertilizers for tomatoes. 



The impression is very prevalent among growers that 

 the tomato does not require heavy manuring. Studies 

 made at a number of experiment stations show, however, 

 that the tomato is a plant that quickly and profitably 

 responds to the use of manures or fertilizers, and that the 

 maturity and yield are very largely influenced by the 



